Easel



w. S. KAPNEK my Q, 135;

EASEL Filed Aug. 8, 1954 Patented July 9, 1935 y 'PATENT oEElcE EASEL Y William S. Kapnek, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner to `Modern lEasel Company,

Pennsylvania Y Application August 8,

4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in easels. The object is to provide improvement in means for locking the prop in desired position of'adjustment. l

The invention comprises the main body of the easel or frame, a prop for supporting the main body Vin position inclined to the vertical, a strut forzadjusting the degree of said inclination and a locking device operating between the prop and strut for locking the parts in required adjustment.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates merely by way of example suitable means for the embodiment of my inventionz- Fig.' 1 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same in openV position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail on an enlarged scale showing the parts in locking position.

Fig. 4 is asimilar view showing the parts unlocked. Y

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5,5 of Fig. Y3.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6,6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the locking member. I

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The frame or main bodyV Iii ofV the easel is provided with plate I I secured to the back thereof by any suitable means, as for example, by points I2, which are forced through the body I0 or a layer thereof and bent over or clinched in the usual way. This plate I I is provided with a channel portion. I3 for receiving the transverse extension I4 of the prop I5 to secure the same in pivotal relation with the frame or body I0. To the body portion I0 is also secured in any suitable Way the plate Iii having the channel portion I1 for receiving the transverse extension I8 of the strut I9 to secure the same in pivotal relation with the frame or body I0. The prop and strut are preferably made of wire, each `having parallel portions as to their main extensions as shown. The prop is pivotally secured at its upper` end to the plate- II and has a flaring loop or footZIl 'at its lower end. The strutis pivoted at itslower end to plate I6 and at its upper end to a formation or yoke 2I.which in turn is secured to a slide member 2,2. 22 is provided on its side margins with bent portions 23 to form channels for receiving the parallel extensions of prop I5 so that said slide member will normally have free sliding engagement with said prop extensions.

A locking member or cam 24 is pivotally se- This slide member a corporation of 1934, Serial No. 738,916

cured tothe inner sideof slide member 22 as by pivot 25, midway between the parallel extensions of prop I5. This member 24 has an arm 26 extending below the lower margin of slide 23, Vand is provided at its lower end with ears 21 for manual operation. The opposite margins rof member 24, and fiankingthe pivot 25 are beveled as at 28 to facilitate the entrance of said beveled margins between the extensions of prop .I5 and the adjacent undersurface of slide 22. When the locking member 24 is in the position shown in Fig. 4Y the slide 22 is free to move up and down upon the parallel extensions of the prop I5, and thus secure desired relative positions Vof strut and prop with respect to the frame or body I0. When such desired positions are secured, the member 24 is moved to the position yshown in Fig. 3, in which the beveled edges of member 24 are moved into tight wedging position between the parallel extensions of the prop and the adjacent surfaces of the slide.

In such position of member 24, the prop and strut are securely locked together against relative movement. f It will be noted that the prop and strut are so formed that the strut may lie between the parallel extensions of the prop, so that prop and strut may lie in the same plane against the rear face of the frame or body II), which facilitates packing and transportation.

The slide 22 is also provided with an eye member or extension 29 positioned on the outer side of the prop and bent outwardly from the plane of the main body of the slide, to provide a handle'for adjusting the slide'and also to provide' means for hanging the devices on a nail or a hook when so desired.

What I claim is:- 'o 1. An easel comprising'akmain body, a prop comprising a wire having parallel extensions, and a strut, secured all in pivotal relationship, a slide pivotally secured to the strut and slidable on s aid wire extensions and a locking lever connected with the slide for clamping the slide to said Wire extensions. 45

2. An easel comprising a main body, a prop and a strut, secured all in pivotal relationship, a. slide pivotally secured to the strut and slidable on the prop, and a locking lever associated with the slide having beveled edges movable into wedging relationship between the prop and the slide.

3. An easel comprising a main body, a prop and a strut, secured all 'in pivotal relationship, a slide pivotally secured to the strut and slidable on the prop, and a locking lever comprising a iat plate connected with the slide and movable in a positioned on the outer side of the prop and plane parallel with the adjacent surface of the bent outwardly from the plane of the main slide to clamp the slide to the prop. body of the slide, to provide a handle for ad- 4. An easel comprising amain body, aprop and justing the slide and also to provide a. hanger 5 a strut pivoted thereto, a slide member pivoted for the easel.

to the strut and slidably mounted on the prop, WILLIAM S. KAPNEK. said slide member provided with an eye extension, 

